Lock-pin lifting and holding device for automatic car couplers



July 5 1927.

. 1,634,588 0. H. LE COMP TE LQCK PIN LIFTING AND HOLDING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLERS Filed June 24, 1925 Qy/Z W612 Z32":

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Fatented July 5, 1927.

tun rs STATES ONESIME LE COMPTE, OF OKLAHODIIA CITY, OKLAHOMA.

Loon-rm LITETING AND- HOLDING DEVICE OR AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLERS.

Application filed June 24, 1925. Serial No. 39,365.

My invention relates to a lock pin lifting and holding device for car couplers and it is a distinct and practical improvement to overcome certain practical objections to, and defects in, the present type of devices for a like purpose.

The object of my present invention isto provide means for lifting the lock pin-for car couplers and to hold the lock pin in its elevated position until released by manipulating the operating lever rod.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lock pin lifting and holding device for automatic car couplers, which will possess advantages in points of simplicity and efficiency, and, at the same time prove itself comparatively inexpensive in manufacture.

With the above and other objects inview, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement-and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed'out in the claims hereto appended. V 1

- Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters of reference denote'similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1, is a view in perspective showing a device embodying the features of my invention as applied to the end of a car for lifting the lock pin of a car coupler.

, Fig. 2, isa view partly in side elevation and partly in sectional elevation of my invention as applied'tothe end of a car. 1

Fig.3, is a perspectiveview of the operating lever rod. V

Fig. l, is a perspective view of the pin lifting lever arm. p i

Fig. 5, is a perspective view of the supporting member to whichthe lock pin lift ing lever arm ispivoted.

Referring to-thedrawing, the reference character 1 represents the end of a car pro: vided with the usual head block 2, While, 3 represents a'snitable car coupler provided with asnitable lock pin at, r r i In carrying ontthe aim of mypresent invention, I employ a suitable operating lever rod which-consists of the body portion 5 which is provided-at- .its outer end with a handle 6 which is bent downwardly at a right angle to the body portion} The inner endof the body portion 5 of the lever rod is bent rearwardly at aright angle to the body portion 5 andthe handle 6 to provide an actuating arm 7, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The body portion 5 of the operating lever rod is mounted for Operation in a pair of suitable bearings 8 which are suitably fixed to the end wall of the wall 1,.as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The reference character 9 represents a suitable supporting member consisting of a pair 7 of spaced sidewalls 10 to provide a channel 11. The side walls 10 are preferably united by means of the bottom wall 12 although not necessarily so, and the side walls 10 are pro vided with base ears 13 having openings 14 for receivin for securely fixingthe supporting memberto the upper face of the head block 2, as clearly shown in Figs. 1and5. The reference-numeral 16 represents a lock pin lifting lever arm, the rear end 17 of which is mounted in the guide channel 11 of the supporting member 9 and pivotally connected to the side walls 10 thereof by means of the pivot pin 18. The forward end of the lock pin lifting arm 16 is connected to the lock pin 4 by means of a suitable connection 19. The lower face of the rear end suitable fastening devices 15 17 of the liftinglever arm 16 is beveled, as

at 20, so as to engage the upper face of the floor 12 of the channeled supporting member 9 when the forward end of the lifting lever arm is in its elevated position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and out of engage ment therewith when the forward end of the lifting lever arm is in its lowermost or normal position, as shown in dotted lines in The upper face of the rear end portion 17 of the lever arm 16 is provided with a stop shoulder 21 for engagement with the free end of the actuating arm 7 of the operating lever rod 5 when the rear end portion 17 of the lifting lever arm has been depressed by manipulating the lever rod 5ffor raising the forward end of the lifting lever arm 16, which movement raises or lifts the lockpin 4 of the car coupler 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The lock pin 4; is held in its elevated lOS Ill

lifting lever arm and permit the forward end thereof to move downwardly thereby pern'iitting the lock pin lto fall into its closed position by means of gravity.

The many advantagesof the heroin decribed invention will readily suggest themselves to tliose skilled in the art to which it appertains.

I do not desire to be understood as hav ing limited myself to the exact details of construction and arrangement of parts as herein described and illust 'ated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and the terms of the following claims, hence I wish it to be understood that I reserve the right to make any such changes, or modifications as may fairly all within the scope of the appended claims when fairly construed.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a means for operating automatic car couplers, the combination with a gravity lock pin, of an operating lever rod, a pivotally supported loclr pin lifting lever arm, a connection between the lifting lever arm and the lock pin and means carried by the operating lever rod adapted for engagement with the upper flat face of the rear end of the lifting lever arm for elevating the lock pin and holding the pin in its elevated position. i 2. In a means for operating automatic car couplers, the combination with a gravity loclrpin, of an operating lever rod, a pivotally supported lock pinlifting lever arm, a connection between the lifting lever arm and the lock pin, an actuating arm directed rearwardly from the inner end of the operating lever rod for engagen'ient with the rear end of the lifting lever arm when lowered in an arcuate path to lower the rear end of the lifting lever arm and raise the forward end thereof to elevate the lock pin-and a shoulder at the rear end of the lifting lever arm to engage the actuating arm when in its operative position. V

8. In a means for operating automatic car couplers, the combination with a gravity lock pin, of an operating, lever rod, a channeled member, a lever arm pivotally connected to said member with its rear portion seated within the channel thereof, a connection between the forward end of the lever arm and the lock pin, and means actuated by the lever arm for lowering the rear end of the lever arm and raising the forward end thereof for elevating the lock pin and holding the pin in its elevated position.

i. The combination of the locking pin of an automatic coupler,achanneled saddle member, a lever arm pivotally supported between the side walls of the channeled saddle member, a connection between one end of the lever arm and the locking pin, an operating lever rod and an arm' directed from the inner end of the lever rod for engaging the upper face of the inner end of the lever arm to lower said inner end of the lever arm and elevate the loclring pin upon oscillating manipulation of the operating lee 1 d on dire t n 5. The combination of the locking pin of an automatic coupler, a longitudinally directed pivotally supported lever arm, a connectio-between one end of the lever arm and the locking pin, an operating lever rod, an arm directed from the inner end of said red at a right angle thereto and engaging the upper face of the inner end of the lever arm for forcing the inner end of the lever arm downwardly thereby elevating the locking pin and holding the same in its elevated position.

6. In combination with the locking pin of an automatlc coupler, a lever arm "having an angularly shaped lower face and provided with a cutaway portion at its inner up er corner to provide a flat upper face an a shoulder at the outer end thereof, means for pivotally supporting said lever arm and preventing lateral displacement thereof and oscillating means for engagement said flat upper face to lower the rear end portion of thelever arm for elevatingthe locking pin and holding the lockingpin in its ele' vated position.

7. In combination with the lockin pin of automatic car coupler, a U-shapedsaddl memberfixed to thefend of a car, a lever arm pivotally connected to said U-shaped member near its inner end, the rear end portion of said lever arm being disposed between the walls of the U-shaped member and the forward end portion thereof extending beyond the outer ends thereof, a connection between the extended end of said lever arm and the locking pin and rocker member. for actuating said lever arm to elevate the locking pin and holding the pin in such elevated position until released.

8. In a car coupler, the combination with the locking pin thereof, of a channeled saddle member having its longitudinal axisdirected longitudinally of the car body, a lifting lever arm pivoted near its inner end between the walls of the saddle member with a portion of its lower face in contact with the floor of the saddle member in its lifting position, a connection between the outer end of the lever arm and the locking pin, said lever arm having a flat upper surface at its inner end, a shoulder formed at the inner end of the fiat upper surface, a horizontally disposed operating lever rod having a handle at its outer end and a stub" arm directed from the inner end of said operating lever rod at a righbangl-e thereto, the free end of which lever rod is adapted to engage'the flat upper face of the lever arm for elevating the outer end of the lever arm and locking:

pin simultaneously and to hold the outer end of the lever arm in its raised position when the stub-arm has assumed a vertical position and is in contact on one side thereof with the shoulder of the lever arm,

9. In a means for operating automatic car couplers the combination with a gravity lock pin, of an operating lever rod, a pivotally supported lock pin lifting lever arm, a connection between the lifting lever arm and the lock pin, an actuating arm directed rearwardly from the inner end of the operating lever rod for engagement with the upper face of the rear end of the lifting lever arm when lowered in an arcuate path to lower the rear end of the lifting lever arm and raise the forward end thereof to elevate the lock pin and a shoulder at the forward end of said upper flat face of the lifting lever arm to engage the actuating arm when in its operative position.

10. In a means for operating automatic car couplers, the combination with a gravity lock pin, ofan operating lever rod, a

channeled saddle member, a lever arm pivotally connected to the side walls of said channeled saddle member with its rear portion disposed within the channel thereof, a connection between the forward end of the lever arm and the lock pin, and an arm directed from the innerend of the lever arm for engagement with the upper surface of the rear end of the lever arm for lowering the rear end of the lever arm and raising the forward end thereof for elevating the lock pin and holding the pin in its elevated position.

ONESIME H. LE COMPTE. 

